Combined basket handle and cover fastener



F. B. TOWNSEND COMBINED BASKET HANDLE AND COVER FASTENER Filed Feb. 18, 1925 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fianilB.Townsend WITNESSES I Q AM. IHH' lull BY 4" WM 1 I ATTORNEY F. B., TOWNSEND COMBINED BASKET HANDLE AND COVER FASTENER Filed Feb. 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEP ITOR Tawnsend Fran/I'D WljlESSES M v.

Patented Sept. 7, W26,

STATES FRANK BOGART TOWNSEND, OF PENN TAN, YORK,

JOHN E. MGMATH, 01" PENN ASSIGNOR C F ONE-HALF TO YAN, NEW YORK.

COMBINED BASKET HANDLE AND COVER FASTENER.

Application filed February This invention relates to combined handles and cover fasteners for grape or other baskets.

The object is to provide a simple and chsimply-manufactured device of this char-' acter formed of the minimum amount of wire, which may be applied to the rim of the. basket by a simple operation of the applying machine to rigidly secure the handle and fastener in position thereon.

Another object is to provide a handle having means for engagement with a notched cover, which will readily permit the latter to be sprung into position on the basket, to lie entirely around its marginal edges upon the rim thereof, so as to prevent any lateral or longitudinal movement of the cover to uncover the basket, or to tilt down into contact with and injure the contents.

A further object is to provide a wire handle and fastener, which may be readily grouped into bunches of fifty or a hundred, more or less, and the same bound together or placed in boxes, etc for the purpose of shipment in quantities, without danger of the same becoming entangled, thus avoiding the loss of time necessary in disentangling such devices when desired for use, such operation often resulting in loss of quantities thereof.

A still further object is to provide a device which may be introduced into the appl ing machine without any care being taken as to which side of the handle and fastener is uppermost, as is necessary in handling ordinary devices of this character, thus resulting in a great saving of time in the process of attaching the device to the baskets.

A final, and perhaps the most important object sought in the present invention, is to provide a handle which will not rock longitudinally with relation tothe basket, the said device having a twopoint bearing upon the upper edges or rim of the basket and the inner and outer bands thereof, which effectually serves to prevent such longitudinal movement, and which further constitutes a rigid stop to abut against said rim and hands when the device is being positioned within the basket to be fastened in place, so as to always locate the same properly to allow the clinching terminals of the wire to be passed entirely around both bands and through the sides to provide a stronger and more dependable structure, the said two- 18, 19535. Serial No. 10,130.

point bearing also acting to preventthe handle from being driven downwardly through the thin veneer sides of the basket in the event the same receives a blow or other pressure in this direction, this rigidity of the handle mounting having the added advantage of preventing the shifting of superimposed baskets when baskets of fruit, etc, are being shipped in large quantities.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawings show practical forms of the invention, the latter is not to be confined to strict conformity with the showing thereof, but may he changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through a grape basket having the improved handle and cover fastener in position thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the basket and showing the handle and fastener in connection with the same.

Figure 3 is a detached view ofthe preferred form of the invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a basket having a slightly modified form of the invention applied thereto, and showing the same holding the cover in position.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the basket and cover with the handle and fastener in position.

Figure 7 is a detail plan view taken sub-' stantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

In Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a transverse sectional view of an ordinary grape basket and comprising a board bottom 1, the relatively thin veneer sides 2, and the usual inner and outer bands 3 and 4 respectively, suitably secured around the upper edges'of said sides.

The invention is particularly adapted to be applied to baskets of this character, though the same may be used in connection with similar containers, as will be readily understood, the purpose being to provide a rigidly mounted handle for carrying the container, and having means for securely holding in position the usual thin board lid or cover 5 to prevent the same from any lateral or longitudinal movement on the basket, so that the cover may rest uniformly upon the upper edges of the sides and bands of the basket around its entire rim.

The combined handle and fastener is adapted to be formed of a single length of suitable wire of proper gage to carry the weight, such length being bent intermediate its ends to form a grip portion 6 adapted to be arranged and secured transversely of the basket inthe usual'manner. The grip por tion is substantially the same width as the width of the basket, and is integrally joined to downwardly and inwardly extending hangers 7, connected thereto by round bends 8 so as to lend more resilience to the connection.

The terminal portions comprising the hangers are then bent outwardly and downwardly, as at 9, to form round shoulders to overhang the lid or cover 5 and prevent the same from rising. Atthe outer ends of the inclined arms 10 constituting said shoulders, the wire is formed into return bends or loops 11, each side of each loop being on a substantially horizontal plane, and each loop, at each side of the basket, be ng on the same horizontal plane, so that when the device is in position upon the basket, as shown, the said loops form a pair of two-point bearings resting squarely upon the upper edges of the sides and the two bands at opposite sides of the basket.

The terminals of the wire are then extended downwardly to form legs 12, in the preferred form of the invention, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, from the inner sides of the loops and, in the original form of the device, (Figure 3) the ends are then bent outwardly substantially at right angles, to provide lateral extensions 13 having pointed ends 14 for penetrat ng through the sides of the basket, to be afterwards bentupwardly and clinched in a manner to be explained.

The resiliency provided by the round bends 8 is for facilitating the application of the handle and fastener to the basket, by permitting the hangers 7 to be flexed towards each other in the handle applying or attaching machine, so that the pointed ends 14 may be brought sufficiently close together to pass between the opposed inner faces of the inner bands of the basket, but such resiliency is not present after the device is applied and the filled basket is being carried thereby, the strength or stiffness of the wire being sufficient to avoid this.

A combined basket handle and cover fastenor constructed as above described is substantially the same at both ends, and may be applied tothe basket with either end located at either side of the basket, so that the invention may be presented for introduction into the attaching mach ne with either side up, as will be seen, and thus a considerable saving in time and labor is effected.

It has not been deemed necessary to illustrate any portion of such machine, but it should be stated that the hangers of the de vice, a ter the latter has been properly placed in the'machine, are forced thereby to approach each other sutficiently to cause the pointed ends of the outwardly d rected extensions 13 to pass the inner band at each side of the basket, when the aforesaid loops or return bends 11, acting as steps, will abut against the edge of the basket and exactly locate the device thereon, the basket, of course, being properly held in position to centrally locate the handle with respect to the ends of the basket.

By the action of certain parts of said machine, the angular terminals of the wire are forced outwardly through the veneer sides 2 of the basket and below the lower edges of the inner and outer bands, the length of the legs 12 being such as to permit the same, when the said extensions 13 are thence bent upwardly against the outer side of the outer band 4, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, to clinch the bands and sides and rigidly secure the handle in position. The portion ofthe vire where traversing the sides of the basket below the bands, thereby effectually prevents the handle from being pulled upwardly from its attachment under the weight of the load, the strain being imparted to the numerous fastenings of the bands. The two sides of the loop 11 bearing in spaced relation and long tudinally upon the upper edges of the sides and bands (Figure 2) also eiiectually prevents any rocking motion of the device, and further prevents the extensions 13 from being forced downwardly through the verticall disposed grain of the relatively thin veneer sides of the basket, in the event of weight or pressure being imparted directly down upon the handle.

The bands, which are generally placed in position around and within the upper edges of the sides of the basket by hand, are sometimes improperly locatedbefore being faste-ned by the usual staples, in which event the extensions 13 of the present device may be forced through a portion of said bands,

as will be understood, but the advantage is still present in the weight of the loaded basket being supported in the same manner.

The advantage derived from the preferred form of the invention, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, resides 1n the fact that the final clinching operation of bending the terminal Lil extensions 18 up against the side of the band is done on the outside of the basket, as it is much easier to force the legs into tight clinching engagement in this manner than from the inside; however, in some instances this maybe desired, and in Figures 4:, 6 and 7 of the drawings there is illustrated a form of the device constructed in accordance therewith. T his handle and fastener has all of the features of the above described form of the invention, except that the legs 12 normally depend from the outer portions of the loops 11, and are adapted to engage the outer face of the outer band l, while the terminal extensions 13 having the pointed ends 1 i are forced inwardly through the sides and below the bands, and finally clinched in an upstanding position against the inner faces of the inner bands.

in either form of the device, the loop 11 is adapted to it within a notch 5" formed in the side edges of the lid or cover, and at the transverse center line thereof, so as to pre vent any longitudinal movement of the cover which, by reason of this formation, may be easily sprung into a slight curve transversely thereof, as shown, and forced beneath the overhanging shoulder 10, after one side has been first seated with the covr occupying an inclined position, the inclination of the arms 10 facilitating such seating of the cover.

From the practical standpoint of the manufacturer, the combined basket handles and cover fasteners herein shown and de scribed combines the following advantageous features. The device may be formed of a minimum amount of wire thus effecting a reduction in the time and cost of manufacture; they are free from projecting loops or similar parts that ordinarily result in the entanglement of the same when shipped in bulk or in great quantities, thus facilitating their being made up into packages or bundles; they require no special handling at the attaching machine, being capable of being placed therein with either side up; they require no special locating means for positioning the handles, by reason of the stop action of the loops which properly position the handles upon the upper edges of the baskets; they place the strain of the loaded basket entirely around the basket and upon the bands and fasteners therefor, by reason of the complete encircling of the bands by the clinching portions of the device; they are held in position by a twopoint bearing upon the top edges of the basket sides and bands, which fact prevents rocking of the handle and helps to prevent shifting of baskets of perishable fruit or other goods while in stacked relation to each other with the handle of one basket extending up between the adjacent ends of two superimposed baskets in a moving vehicle during shipment, the individual baskets being held more rigidly in position in superimposed relation, with the covers of each basket held securely from movement in any direction and squarely upon the rim thereof.

ll hat is claimed is 1. A combined basket handle and cover fastener formed of wire comprisin a transversely disposed grip having de )ending hanger arms at its ends, said arms converging inwardly, downwardly and outwardly inclined arms eading from the hanger arms to form shoulders to bear upon the cover, loops at the lower outer ends of the inclined arms arranged in horizontal alinement and constituting a two-point bearing to abut the upper edges of the sides of the basket and the bands thereof, legs extending from said loops in a substantially vertical direction and flat against the exposed side of one of the bands to the lower edge of the same, and lateral extensions at the lower ends of said legs bent at right angles to traverse the side of the basket, said extensions being bent upardly to clamp the device in position.

2. A combined basket handle and cover fastener composed of a single length of wire and bent to provide a grip portion arranged transversely of the basket, depending inwardly converging hanger arms at the ends of said grip portion, each hanger arm being bent outwardly at its lower end to ,form opponite inclined arms to engage in notches in the side edges of the cover, substantially horizontal loops formed at the outer ends of the inclined arms to rest on the upper edges of the basket sides and bands, the terminals of the wire passing down against one side of one band forming legs, thence through the sides and upwardly to clamp said bands and side, the said horizontal loops forming a double bearing sur ace to prevent the handle from rocking lengthwise of the basket.

in combined basket handle and cover 'astener formed of wire, and comprising grip portion arran ed transversely of the sket and having integral, inwardly infned hanger arms depending from the ends 8"(30f, outwardly and downwardly in- -lined arms extending from the hanger arms to overlie the basket cover and hold the same upon the basket, said cover having centrally located notcl es formed at its side edges, return bends or loops formed at the extren'iities of the inclined arms to form a double bearing to rest upon the upper edges of the basket sides and bands to prevent rocking of the handle, said loops fitting within said notches to prevent longitudinal movement of the cover, and pointed terminal portions extending downwardly from the loops and adapted to be passed through the sides of the basket below the bands and to be finally bent u wardly and clinched to hold th device rigidly in place.

45A combined Wire basket handle and cover fastener formed of wire comprising a transverse grip portion provided at its ends with hanger arins, downwardly and outwardly inclined arms under which the cover is sprung, substantially horizontally disposed loops at the lower ends of said arms to form a two-point bearing on the upper edges of the basket and bands at each side, and substantially vertically disposed loops depending from said horizontally disposed loops and clinching the bands and upper edges of the basket sides.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afi ixed my signature. I

FRANK BOGART TOXVNSEN D. 

